Input device with a fingerprint sensor and a force sensor associated with the fingerprint sensor

ABSTRACT

An input device includes a fingerprint sensor, an operating layer having a first operating surface, at least one force sensor, and an evaluation unit. The first operating surface has an acquisition surface which acquires a fingerprint of a finger of an operator via the fingerprint sensor. The at least one force sensor measures an operating force of the finger of the operator acting on the first operating surface. The evaluation unit is electrically conductively connected with the fingerprint sensor and with the at least one force sensor. The evaluation unit assigns at least one first switching function to the operating force applied on first operating surface of the operating layer if the operating force measured on the first operating surface exceeds a first threshold value.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2016 119845.5, filed Oct. 18, 2016. The entire disclosure of said application isincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present invention relates to an input device with a fingerprintsensor, in particular a steering wheel with a fingerprint sensordisposed thereon.

BACKGROUND

Fingerprint sensors for personalizing a man-machine interface andmethods for the personalization thereof have previously been described.Machines such as motor vehicles can be operated by a man-machineinterface. For this purpose, they may in particular have input devices,for example, in the form of buttons and/or the like. A man-machineinterface of a motor vehicle usually has a steering wheel via whichsteering inputs for controlling the transverse dynamics of a motorvehicle can be inputted. Man-machine interfaces of motor vehicles mayalso have display devices via which feedback to operating instructions,operating tips, and/or information for a user of the motor vehicle canbe provided.

The personalization of man-machine interfaces of motor vehicles so thata configuration and/or an appearance of the man-machine interface aredesigned differently for different users has also previously beendescribed. DE 10 2005 042 830 A1 describes an apparatus and a method forsetting internal vehicle functions and/or devices in a user-specificmanner wherein, for at least one user, at least one user-specific dataset containing at least one personal user profile of the user can bestored in the memory of an internal vehicle computing unit and/or in aportable memory unit, respectively, the user can be identified by atleast one personal identifier, internal vehicle functions and/or devicescan be automatically configured in a user-specific manner by thepersonal user profile, and at least the part of the user-specific dataset including the personal user profile can be encrypted and decryptedonly after a successful identification of the user, which identificationis carried out by the personal identifier. A biometric identification ofthe user is in particular carried out by devices suitable therefor. Thelatter have, for example, a scanner for scanning fingerprints. DE 199 41947 A1 describes operating members for an instrument cluster and acentral display, wherein the operating members are integrated into asteering wheel of the motor vehicle, wherein the operating member forthe central display is disposed on the half of the steering wheel facingtowards the central display, and the operating member for the instrumentcluster is disposed on the half of the steering wheel facing towards theinstrument cluster.

A drawback of the above-mentioned man-machine interfaces is that thefingerprint sensor provided for personalization can only be used forpersonalization, and not for other purposes.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention is to provide an input device inwhich the fingerprint sensor provided for acquiring biometric data canbe employed for other purposes.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an input device whichincludes a fingerprint sensor, an operating layer comprising a firstoperating surface, at least one force sensor, and an evaluation unit.The first operating surface comprises an acquisition surface which isconfigured to acquire a fingerprint of a finger of an operator via thefingerprint sensor. The at least one force sensor is configured tomeasure an operating force of the finger of the operator acting on thefirst operating surface. The evaluation unit is electricallyconductively connected with the fingerprint sensor and with the at leastone force sensor. The evaluation unit is configured, if the operatingforce measured on the first operating surface exceeds a first thresholdvalue, to assign at least one first switching function to the operatingforce applied on first operating surface of the operating layer

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in greater detail below on the basisof embodiments and of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a man-machine interface 1 according to the presentinvention which comprises an embodiment of the input device 2 accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the input device 2 from FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through the embodiment of the input deviceaccording to the present invention from FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an input device comprising afingerprint scanner and an operating layer defining a first operatingsurface. In this case, the first operating surface further comprises anacquisition surface for acquiring a fingerprint of a finger of anoperator via the above-mentioned fingerprint scanner. This can, forexample, be a fingerprint sensor that is suitable for acquiring a printof the finger, in particular the papillary lines of a stationary finger,or at least some portions thereof. This fingerprint sensor is alsoreferred to as a fully automatic fingerprint sensor. A number ofdifferent methods can be used to scan the papillary lines according tothe present invention. These include: optical sensors, electrical fieldsensors, polymer TFT sensors (TFT—thin film transistor), thermalsensors, capacitive sensors, contactless 3D-sensors, and ultrasonicsensors.

The hardware component of a biometric system, which at first suppliesthe biometric measurement data, is referred to as a fingerprint sensoraccording to the present invention. This is a special form of abiometric sensor. Depending on the biometric method used, various typesof sensors may be used according to the present invention. Opticalsensors use light to acquire an image of the fingerprint. Electricalfield sensors measure the local variation of the electrical field thatis produced on the contours of the surface of the finger when a smallelectrical signal is emitted. Polymer TFT sensors measures the lightemitted in the polymer substrate where a contact takes place when thefinger is placed thereon. Thermal sensors register the thermal image ofthe finger placed thereon. For capacitive sensors, the sensor surfacetogether with the surface of the finger forms a capacitor whosecapacitance changes due to the contour of the skin (ridges and grooves).These local changes are measured and represent the fingerprint.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an optical or capacitivefingerprint sensor can, for example, be used, for example, an opticalfingerprint sensor emitting infrared light. The respective fingerprintsensor used in accordance with the present invention is used togetherwith an evaluation unit, i.e., a data processing module, as a so-calledon-line system. It is relatively easy to immediately check the qualityof the recorded fingerprints since a feedback to the image processingalgorithm exists in the on-line method.

The fingerprint of a living subject is usually recorded by lightlyplacing the finger of the user on the acquisition surface of thefingerprint sensor. In this case, the scan can of course only capturethose papillary lines that are in direct contact with the acquisitionsurface.

The print of a living subject therefore results in the recording of onlya portion of the surface of the finger.

The input device according to the present invention has at least oneforce sensor. Several force sensors can, for example, be disposed in anarray. The force sensor or force sensors is/are thereby configured tomeasure an operating force acting on the operating surface.

As was explained above, an evaluation unit is also provided to evaluatethe biometric data obtained by the fingerprint sensor. The evaluationunit is connected in an electrically conductive manner with thefingerprint sensor and with the force sensor. The evaluation unit isfurther configured, in the event of an operation of the first operatingsurface, in particular by a finger, with an operating force exceeding afirst threshold value, to assign a switching function to this operation.For example, a running state of a unit in the vehicle is changed by adigital switching function. The evaluation unit can, for example, beconfigured, solely in the event of a touch or operation with anoperating force below the first threshold value, to run the fingerprintsensor in a mode in which the fingerprint of the operator is acquired.The risk of a non-detectability due to an excessive finger contactpressure is thus avoided.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the fingerprint sensor andthe evaluation unit can, for example, be further configured to be run ina control mode in order to detect a movement of the finger on theacquisition surface in order to carry out a cursor control, i.e., tomove a cursor on an electronic display as synchronously as possible withthe movement of the finger on the acquisition surface.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned switchingfunction can, for example, be a switching function that does not takebiometric data into account. This is a confirmation function which can,for example, be used in the cursor control. A switching function takinginto account biometric data would be understood to be a function thatstops the scanning process when a threshold value is exceeded, orinterrupts it because a risk of non-detectability exists due to anexcessive finger contact pressure.

In an embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that, in thecontrol mode, the movement can, for example, be detected by the speckleinterference pattern generated by the fingerprint sensor.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the operating layer can, forexample, have a at least one second operating surface which is disposedoutside the first operating surface and which is also subject to thedetection by a force sensor, and wherein the evaluation unit isconfigured, in the event of an operation of the second operatingsurface, in particular by a finger, where an operating force exceeds asecond threshold value, to assign a switching function thereto. Arunning state of a unit in the vehicle can, for example, be changed bythe second switching function.

The first threshold value can, for example, differ from the secondthreshold value.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a means for the spatiallyresolving detection of the touch on the operating layer can, forexample, be provided in order to verify, for example, at least theoperation of the second operating surface. The spatially resolvingdetection can, for example, be capacitively carried out independently ofthe force sensors forming the force sensor system. This can, forexample, be provided as an array of electrodes which generates severalmeasuring capacitances whose change or manipulation by the finger of theuser is detected in a spatially resolving manner by the evaluation unit.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the means for the spatiallyresolving detection of the touch can, for example, be configured tocomprise the at least one force sensor. An array of force sensors, forexample, an array of capacitive force sensors, can, for example, beprovided to carry out the spatially resolving detection of the touch andthe operation.

The present invention further relates to a man-machine interface whichcomprises a steering wheel and an input device according to any one ofthe previously described embodiments attached to the steering wheel.

The present invention also relates to the use of the input device in oneof the above-described embodiments in a motor vehicle.

In an embodiment, the present invention also relates to an inputtingmethod comprising the following steps. In a providing step, there isprovided: a fingerprint scanner, an operating layer defining a firstoperating surface, wherein the operating surface further comprises anacquisition surface for acquiring a fingerprint of a finger of anoperator, at least one force sensor configured to measure an operatingforce acting on the first operating surface, and an evaluation unit,which is connected in an electrically conductive manner with thefingerprint sensor and the force sensor. In a measuring step, theoperating force acting on the first operating surface, is measured bythe force sensor. The measurement can, for example, be carried outcontinuously or successively in a time sequence.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a step of assigning at leastone switching function to an operation of the operating layer by theevaluation unit can, for example, be provided if an operating forceexceeding a first threshold value was measured in the measuring step.However, no assignment takes place if, for example, a lower measurementvalue or a measurement value corresponding to the threshold value ismeasured.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the inputting methodaccording to the present invention has at least one switching functionthat does not take biometric data into account, such as a confirmationfunction used in the cursor control.

Other embodiments according to the present invention of the inputtingmethod are conceivable in addition to the above-described embodimentswhich have one or a combination of the features described above withrespect to the input device.

The present invention is explained in greater detail below underreference to the drawings. The drawings are to be understood only asexamples and merely represent an embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a man-machine interface 1 according to the presentinvention in a motor vehicle (which is not shown in detail). Theman-machine interface 1 according to the present invention has asteering wheel 3 with an outer steering wheel rim 4 and an inner impactabsorber 6 which holds the steering wheel rim 4 through twodiametrically opposed steering wheel spokes 5. An input device 2 isintegrated into each of the steering wheel spokes 5. The input device 2is shown in a top view in FIG. 2 and in a cross-section in FIG. 3. Theinput device 2 is shown in detail in FIG. 3. The input device 2 has anouter input layer or operating layer 11 having a first operating surface9 and several second operating surfaces 7, 8. The first operatingsurface 9 comprises an acquisition surface 10, which is concentricallydisposed. The acquisition surface 10 is associated with a fingerprintsensor 14. The fingerprint sensor 14 scans the acquisition surface 10optically in order to determine biometric data of a finger restingagainst the acquisition surface 10 or to carry out a cursor control in acontrol mode by a sliding movement of the finger across the acquisitionsurface 10. The operating layer 11 is supported on a base 13 by an arrayof force sensors 12. The force sensors 12 serve to determine the force,but also to determine the location of action of the operating force onthe operating layer 11, via the data determined by the force sensors 12being transmitted to an evaluation unit 15. A switching function isassigned to the operation in the area of the first operating surface 9in the event an operating force exceeds a predetermined threshold value.This is, for example, a confirmation function after completing aselection during the cursor control in the control mode. In addition tothe first operating surface 9, the operating layer 11 defines furthersecond operating surfaces whose operation is detected by the array offorce sensors 12 and assigned to a switching function by the evaluationunit 15.

The features cited individually in the appended claims can be combinedwith each other in any technologically meaningful manner and therebyrepresent other embodiments of the present invention. The description,in particular in connection with the drawings, additionallycharacterizes and specifies the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An input device comprising: a fingerprint sensor;an operating layer comprising a first operating surface, the firstoperating surface comprising an acquisition surface which is configuredto acquire a fingerprint of a finger of an operator via the fingerprintsensor; at least one force sensor configured to measure an operatingforce of the finger of the operator acting on the first operatingsurface; and an evaluation unit which is electrically conductivelyconnected with the fingerprint sensor and with the at least one forcesensor, the evaluation unit being configured, if the operating forcemeasured on the first operating surface exceeds a first threshold value,to assign at least one first switching function to the operating forceapplied on first operating surface of the operating layer.
 2. The inputdevice as recited in claim 1, wherein, only if the operating forcemeasured on the first operating surface does not exceed the firstthreshold value, the evaluation unit is further configured to run thefingerprint sensor in a mode in which the fingerprint of the operator isacquired.
 3. The input device as recited in claim 1, wherein thefingerprint sensor and the evaluation unit are further configured to berun in a control mode in order to detect a movement of the finger on theacquisition surface in order to carry out a cursor control.
 4. The inputdevice as recited in claim 3, wherein, the fingerprint sensor is furtherconfigured to generate a speckle interference pattern, and in thecontrol mode, the movement is detected via the speckle interferencepattern.
 5. The input device as recited in claim 3, wherein at least onefirst switching function of the at least one first switching functiondoes not take biometric data into account,
 6. The input device asrecited in claim 3, wherein the biometric data is a confirmationfunction used in the cursor control.
 7. The input device as recited inclaim 1, wherein, the operating layer further comprises at least onesecond operating surface arranged outside the first operating surface;the at least one force sensor is further configured to measure anoperating force of the finger acting on the at least one secondoperating surface; and the evaluation unit is further configured, if theoperating force measured on the at least one second operating surfaceexceeds a second threshold value, to assign a second switching functionto the operating force applied to the at least one second operatingsurface of the operating layer.
 8. The input device as recited in claim7, wherein the first threshold value differs from the second thresholdvalue.
 9. The input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at leastone second operating surface further comprises means for the spatiallyresolving detection of a touch, the means for the specially resolvingdetection of a touch being configured to verify an operation of the atleast one second operating surface.
 10. The input device as recited inclaim 9, wherein the means for the spatially resolving detection of atouch comprises at least one force sensor.
 11. The input device asrecited in claim 9, wherein the means for the spatially resolvingdetection of a touch comprises an array of force sensors.
 12. Aman-machine interface comprising: a steering wheel; and the input deviceas recited in claim 1 is attached to the steering wheel.
 13. A method ofusing the input device as recited in claim 1 to operate a motor vehicle,the method comprising: providing the input device as recited in claim 1in the motor vehicle; and using the input device to operate the motorvehicle.
 14. An inputting method comprising: providing, a fingerprintscanner, an operating layer comprising a first operating surface, thefirst operating surface comprising an acquisition surface which isconfigured to acquire a fingerprint of a finger of an operator; at leastone force sensor configured to measure an operating force of the fingerof the operator acting on the first operating surface; and an evaluationunit which is electrically conductively connected with the fingerprintsensor and with the at least one force sensor; measuring the operatingforce acting on the first operating surface with the at least one forcesensor; and assigning at least one switching function to an operation ofthe first operating surface of the operating layer with the evaluationunit if an operating force exceeding a first threshold value wasmeasured during the measuring.
 15. The inputting method according to thepreceding claim, wherein at least one switching function is a switchingfunction that does not take biometric data into account.